He’s the cockiest bastard I’ve ever met and I mean that with all the affection and adoration in the world. I’ve been in love with him for years, and not just because of those intense blue eyes or that slow smug smile that promises to make all your dreams come true. I’ve seen what lies under that smile and his cocksure attitude. It’s enough to make me melt.

Not that I’d ever let him know. Not only is Luke Cochran one of Hollywood’s up-and-coming movie stars…he’s also my boss. I’m his personal assistant and have seen all the women who come and go in his life.

I don’t even hold a candle. But a girl can dream…right?

Luke

Sabrina is one of the sharpest, funniest, kindest people I’ve ever met. Sometimes, I think I’m taking advantage of her, but I seriously cannot cope with my hectic lifestyle without her to keep me on track.

Of course, my life just got totally knocked off track. One of my sisters called. They need me back home. My mother is sick and the last thing I can think about is the promotional tour I’ve got coming up.

Sabrina’s coming with me. She’s the only person who can keep me focused and centered in a time like this. Besides, my family adores her. And it’s just a quick visit. My mother is tough. She’ll be alright.

But then something happens that knocks me for a loop and when my mother tells me that all she really wants in life is to see her kids happy and settled down, I do the stupidest damn thing ever and announce that Sabrina and I are in love. Now I’ve just got to convince my best friend to play along with me and act like she’s my fiancée and we’re stupid in love.

Excerpt

I knew I was babbling. I could even hear the strident rising of my voice, but I couldn’t stop it.

“You told her we were engaged? Luke! What were you thinking—” Just as my voice reached the level where it might shatter glass, he reached up and pressed his finger to my lips.

My body, so long starved for his attention, responded according.

“Keep your voice down,” he begged, his ocean-blue eyes desperate.

“You want me to keep my voice down?” I yanked my head back, gaping at him in dismay. “You told your mother that we were engaged and you want me to keep my voice down?”

The door’s hinges, like most of the ones in the hospital, were squeakier than a mouse on a cheese spree, but I had no chance to see who was intruding because I found myself plastered against Luke, his hand in my hair. And his tongue was in my mouth.

I couldn’t help it.

I groaned.

As he kissed the living daylights out of me, I heard a high-pitched noise but my brain didn’t recognize it for what it was right away. My synapses were on overload. Could this much stimuli make my body shut down? I didn’t know. I didn’t care. Luke’s tongue traced my lower lip.

“Luke!”

He lifted up, only briefly, but the loss of his mouth was one I felt keenly. I gripped his shoulders. I didn’t even remember reaching for him, but I must have and I clung to him so tightly, my fingers ached. He spoke. I don’t know what he said, but I felt his chest rumbling against my chest.

Somebody else responded—a new voice. I was almost certain the last one I’d heard had been female. How many people were in here? I blinked, reality starting to settle in. I pushed at Luke’s shoulders, no longer clinging to him, but he didn’t seem to be in any hurry to let me go.

“Geez, Luke…”

“Chris, get out before I throw you out,” Luke said. “Hi, Ellie.”

Ellie. I groaned and once more tried to extricate myself from Luke’s arms. When he didn’t let go this time, I turned my head and sank my teeth into his biceps. Hard. Never let it be said that he wasn’t skilled at controlling his reactions. Although I felt him stiffen, he didn’t show any other sign that it affected him. I applied more pressure. He made a low noise but didn’t relent.

“Come on, baby,” Ellie said. “It’s pretty clear these two wanna be alone right now. Besides, don’t you want to see your mom?”

The sound of the door squeaking closed should have been the signal that we were alone and Luke could let me go. He didn’t. Feeling stupid standing there with my teeth digging into him like some stubborn bulldog, I let him go and swung my eyes up so I could glare at him. He looked down at me, a bemused smile on his face. “Were you hungry?”

Writer’s Block

Some of you have probably noticed this is the first new book I’ve put out in a while. I’ve had my first ever real case of writer’s case, Since my brother died, I’ve been dealing with grief, depression and that writer’s block. I talk about it more over at the HEA Blog on USA Today.